First Time Carrying In Public

[81aggie]

You will get used to it. When I carried in public the first few times the nerves were really going. I was constantly touching my shirt/jacket to make sure it wasn't riding up and exposing my gun, and would quickly check my reflection in any glass I walked by to make sure nothing was visible. Now (only been carrying for a little over 2 months) I'm usually unaware of the gun in my pocket or waistband after having it on for only a few minutes. Keep carrying, be careful, and it will become second nature.

[samobius]

The main thing to remember is you have every right to carry a concealed handgun (in places that are not prohibited). Even if your shirt blows up or something, it's not a crime.

I think the shirt blowing up thing is overemphasized. It has never happened to me.

I've been carrying less than a week and I'm still wondering what I would say if I were "made". "It's ok, I have a license"?

The sad thing is, if you see someone open carrying, you assume they're law enforcement. It's almost more calming to see someone open carry.
But with most people, if you have a gun under your shirt, you must have something to hide, ergo you must be a bad guy.

So it seems like the only difference between us and the bad guys is a thin piece of plastic that protects us from going directly to jail if a LEO learns we're concealing.

Just doesn't seem right.

[marksiwel]

The main thing to remember is you have every right to carry a concealed handgun (in places that are not prohibited). Even if your shirt blows up or something, it's not a crime.

I think the shirt blowing up thing is overemphasized. It has never happened to me.

I've been carrying less than a week and I'm still wondering what I would say if I were "made". "It's ok, I have a license"?

The sad thing is, if you see someone open carrying, you assume they're law enforcement. It's almost more calming to see someone open carry.
But with most people, if you have a gun under your shirt, you must have something to hide, ergo you must be a bad guy.

So it seems like the only difference between us and the bad guys is a thin piece of plastic that protects us from going directly to jail if a LEO learns we're concealing.

Just doesn't seem right.

What to say if someone makes you? Depends on what they say I guess?

Screams "HE's GOT A GUN!"
I wouldnt know what to say

[seamusTX]

So it seems like the only difference between us and the bad guys is a thin piece of plastic that protects us from going directly to jail if a LEO learns we're concealing.

The difference is intent. You carry a handgun to defend yourself against illegal attacks. A bad guy carries a weapon to commit crimes.

As for being made, don't worry about it. If you have a good holster and appropriate cover garments, it won't happen.

- Jim

[samobius]

What to say if someone makes you? Depends on what they say I guess?

Screams "HE's GOT A GUN!"
I wouldnt know what to say

Yeah, crowds of homo sapiens don't deal well with one or two people panicking. Its infectious and once it sets in, logic and reason are the first to go.

I'm referring more to the situation in the grocery store aisle, where you're reaching up and show a little and there's the classic little kid tugging on a parent's arm saying "daddy that man has a gun under his shirt".

The difference is intent. You carry a handgun to defend yourself against illegal attacks. A bad guy carries a weapon to commit crimes.

100% true. But the general public has no way of discerning intent and all their lives (heck, all MY life) they've been taught that guns are bad and people that carry them in public must be bad unless they're police officers or military.

[sjfcontrol]

They wouldn't know, and would likely assume your a plain-clothes or off-duty cop of some sort. As least assuming you're not Mexican-carrying.

[seamusTX]

... But the general public has no way of discerning intent and all their lives (heck, all MY life) they've been taught that guns are bad and people that carry them in public must be bad unless they're police officers or military.

A very small percentage of the public will panic at the sight of a firearm -- mostly people who have been traumatized in some way and have not dealt with it.

The rest are inclined to mind their own business.

Unless you wear gangsta' colors or have homemade tattoos on your face, I would think most people would assume that you are a cop.

In any case, 98% of the population does not go around trying to figure out whether other people are carrying weapons. Quite the opposite. They are so wrapped up in their cell phones, iPods, or general mental fog that they walk into glass doors or in front of buses.

- Jim

[USA1]

In any case, 98% of the population does not go around trying to figure out whether other people are carrying weapons.

I'm proud to be a 2%er

[seamusTX]

I look. I have never determined for sure that someone is carrying a weapon, including off-duty cops who I know are carrying.

At gun club meetings where guys are wearing 5.11 vests and cargo pants, I have a clue; but only insiders recognize those things.

- Jim

[samobius]

In any case, 98% of the population does not go around trying to figure out whether other people are carrying weapons. Quite the opposite. They are so wrapped up in their cell phones, iPods, or general mental fog that they walk into glass doors or in front of buses.

You know, you are right on with this. In fact this reminded me of an article I read a couple of weeks ago. There was a study done on a college campus where a guy was in a clown costume riding a unicycle on the campus.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/2 ... straction/

Among pedestrians who were listening to music or walking alone, one in three mentioned that they had just seen a clown on a unicycle. Nearly 60 percent of people who were walking with a friend mentioned the clown. But among people who had been talking on the cellphone, only 8 percent spontaneously remembered the clown.

I must say this forum has really made me feel so much more at ease in regards to carrying. :)

[Excaliber]

The main thing to remember is you have every right to carry a concealed handgun (in places that are not prohibited). Even if your shirt blows up or something, it's not a crime.

I think the shirt blowing up thing is overemphasized. It has never happened to me.

I've been carrying less than a week and I'm still wondering what I would say if I were "made". "It's ok, I have a license"?

The sad thing is, if you see someone open carrying, you assume they're law enforcement. It's almost more calming to see someone open carry.
But with most people, if you have a gun under your shirt, you must have something to hide, ergo you must be a bad guy.

So it seems like the only difference between us and the bad guys is a thin piece of plastic that protects us from going directly to jail if a LEO learns we're concealing.

Just doesn't seem right.

What to say if someone makes you? Depends on what they say I guess?

Screams "HE's GOT A GUN!"
I wouldnt know what to say

The best answer I've heard is: "Lady, you're in Texas. Get over it."

For a better understanding of why you don't need to worry about being made unless you're doing something pretty unusual, watch this very short video just once while counting the number of times a basketball is passed from one subject to another. Write down your answer so you won't forget it. I'll explain the relevance this evening.

[marksiwel]

The main thing to remember is you have every right to carry a concealed handgun (in places that are not prohibited). Even if your shirt blows up or something, it's not a crime.

I think the shirt blowing up thing is overemphasized. It has never happened to me.

I've been carrying less than a week and I'm still wondering what I would say if I were "made". "It's ok, I have a license"?

The sad thing is, if you see someone open carrying, you assume they're law enforcement. It's almost more calming to see someone open carry.
But with most people, if you have a gun under your shirt, you must have something to hide, ergo you must be a bad guy.

So it seems like the only difference between us and the bad guys is a thin piece of plastic that protects us from going directly to jail if a LEO learns we're concealing.

Just doesn't seem right.

What to say if someone makes you? Depends on what they say I guess?

Screams "HE's GOT A GUN!"
I wouldnt know what to say

The best answer I've heard is: "Lady, you're in Texas. Get over it."

For a better understanding of why you don't need to worry about being made unless you're doing something pretty unusual, watch this very short video just once while counting the number of times a basketball is passed from one subject to another. Write down your answer so you won't forget it. I'll explain the relevance this evening.

heh they showed that video in my class, I was one of the only ones to "get it"

[USA1]

Dang ! I got distracted by the gorilla with the gun.

[marksiwel]

I would like to point out that I counted the number of passes and got the rest the first time through

[03Lightningrocks]

I saw one like that in my Utah CHL class. Instead of a guy in a guerrilla costume, it was a guy dressed up like the grim reaper. LOL...I sort of got it, but from a different angle. I thought the purpose of the video was to point out how distracted you can get while passing a basket ball back and forth. I kept wondering why none of those folks noticed the grim reaper walking amongst them. I know it distracted me from counting the number of times they passed that basketball.